YOUR DIALYSIS JOURNEY

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

A brief overview of the disease and treatment options

01 CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition where both of your kidneys gradually lose their ability to help
your body remove waste and fluid from your blood. When this happens, harmful toxins and excess water
begin to build up in your body, making you feel unwell and out of balance.

02 KIDNEY FUNCTION
Well-functioning kidneys remove waste and excess fluids from your blood, keep important minerals in balance,
and help regulate blood pressure. In other words, your kidneys make sure your body stays healthy and balanced.

03 SYMPTOMS
Symptoms vary by individual, but some are more common than others. These are some of the common
symptoms you may experience if your kidneys are not working properly.

• Weakness or tiredness • Nausea

• Swelling of hands or feet • Trouble sleeping
• Unexpected shortness of breath • Unexpectedly itchy skin
• Loss of appetite or weight • Muscles cramps
• An unpleasant taste in your mouth • Skin might appear darker than normal

04 CAUSES OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

In most cases, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the result of other conditions that have permanently impacted
your kidneys over time. These include the following:

• Diabetes • Polycystic kidney disease

• High blood pressure • Glomerulonephritis
• Lupus • Injury or trauma

05 TREATMENT OPTIONS
Most people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are treated with dialysis – either at home or at a clinic.
Dialysis is a process that removes waste and excess fluid from your blood that your kidneys are no longer
able to filter out. There are different types of dialysis including:

Peritoneal Dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen, Haemodialysis filters your blood using a machine
the peritoneal membrane, as a filter to clean your and a synthetic membrane called a dialyser.
blood inside your body.

GLBL/MG232/19-0001z If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms you should talk to your doctor or healthcare team. If you want to know more visit YourDialysisJourney.com